Repair cafes have become an international movement dedicated to repairing and sometimes re-purposing items that might otherwise be thrown out.

The Repair Cafe website declares there are now 1500 repair cafes operating internationally.

The Toronto and Warners Bay area sustainable neighbourhood groups have teamed up to launch repair cafes in Lake Macquarie.

The first was held at Toronto Community Centenary Hub, on Saturday, May 19.

Locals were invited to take along clothing and garden tools that needed repair and, under direct guidance, be taught how to fix the garment or tool yourself.

So participants learned such things as hemming, how to patch split seams or tears, how to adjust seams, and sharpen garden tools.

“Our repair cafes started successfully last Saturday at Toronto, with clothing and garden tool repairs, and free coffee and treats,” Stephen Dewar, of Toronto Area Sustanable Neighbourhood Group, said.

“We intend to alternate the repair cafes between Toronto and Warners Bay, month by month.

“The plan is also to expand the type of repairs that we do at the repair cafes, including bike repairs.”

The next repair cafe will be at the Willows Uniting Church, on Hillsborough Road, Warners Bay, on Saturday, June 16, from 10.30am to 1.30pm.

“Then we’ll be back at Toronto Hub in July,” Mr Dewar said. 

“Instead of throwing out broken household goods to landfill, people can lean to repair a pre-loved garment or tool.

“This reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfill and people learn to share valuable and practical repairing skills – many of which are being lost over time.”

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